Tag: cable

iPhones and other smart devices like tablets are the best way to keep connected whenever you are the go and wherever you go. Making sure all your devices have a charge is the only way to use them. You probably find yourself carrying a bundle of wires, with one charging cord specific to one device. Reduce the cords that you lug around with the 3-in-1 USB-C, Lightning, and microUSB Cables which would be perfect for your devices. It’s on sale now in the iPhoneHacks Deals Hub. Continue reading →iPhone Hacks | #1 iPhone, iPad, iOS Blog

When Apple introduced MagSafe, the magnetic breakaway power cable for its laptops, it was a major game-changer. No longer did clumsy people have to worry about tripping over their power cord and bringing their expensive laptop crashing to the ground as a result. This Atech USB-C Magnetic Breakaway Charging Cable offers the same level of protection for your USB-C-powered devices, and it’s on sale for just $ 24.99…. Read the rest of this post here

Apple made the decision to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack starting with the iPhone 7 line back in 2016. And despite the doom and gloom from many tech pundits who saw the move as anti-consumer, iPhone sales continue to grow. While many iPhone fans have switched to wireless Bluetooth headphones, or even Apple’s own AirPods, there is another option available if you still want to use wired headphones. What Are Lightning Headphones? Lightning headphones, as you could probably guess by the name, plug directly into the charging port of your device. A major advantage of Lightning headsets, compared to regular…

A family in British Columbia has demanded Apple pay it $ 600,000 to help cover uninsured losses endured from a farmhouse fire in October 2016, one claimed to have been started by an overheating cable used to charge an iPhone 6.AppleInsider – Frontpage News

What better way is there to start the working week than by indulging in some online retail therapy? Yes, that’s right, our daily tech deals once again are bringing you the ability to purchase some brand new technology without having to break the bank. Act now while the deals are out and hot.

Tech accessory company Nomad officially launched the newest addition to their series of cables yesterday, and it’s perfect for USB-C users who need a powerful cable with high durability.

Simply dubbed the USB C Cable – 100W, this robust accessory allows for a whopping 100W power transfer — more power than any phone or tablet requires. That means if you use it to charge any of your handheld devices, they’ll juice up as quickly as they possibly can. In addition, the Nomad USB-C supports full-speed charging for all compatible MacBooks, including the 15″ MacBook Pro that has a max charging speed of 87W.

Design-wise, the cable is heavy duty while remaining sleek in appearance. Its extra thick wire gauge and polyamide core is encased in a thick protective PVC jacket and then covered in braided ballistic nylon for abrasion and tear resistance. The worst part of any user-cable relationship is needing to toss it out due to strain — especially around where it connects to your device — but thankfully this USB-C cable “works reliably after 4,000 multi-directional 150 degree flexes at the lightning connector” according to the company.

The Nomad 100W USB-C cable is priced at $ 39.95, and is available for purchase on Nomad’s website. If you’re just looking for a reliable USB-C but don’t need as much power, the company also offers a thinner 60W version.

The March Madness 2018 schedule was just released, so with less than a month until the First Four games, of course it’s time to talk about how to live stream the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament! Maybe you caught March Madness 2017 via cable last year, but want to cut the cord this year and live stream March Madness 2018. Possibly you’ve been streaming national championship basketball games for some time but are searching for a new way to watch NCAA basketball online or on your Apple TV. Either way, there are lots of options you can use to stream the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament games. Let’s get started learning how to live stream all the March Madness games to our Apple TVs.

Live Streaming Schedule: March Madness Bracket 2018

We’ll find out which teams have made the cut for this year’s championships on Selection Sunday, March 11, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by the First Four on March 13 and 14. That gives us a little less than a month until the First Four, so let’s get cracking!

Now that you know which days to anticipate live streaming, you can decide which games you’d like to catch as soon as Selection Sunday announcements happen. Here’s the official bracket for 2018 so you can fill it in as the 68 teams are announced. Remember, you can’t catch every game live, but the beauty of many of the streaming services we’ll learn about is their ability to archive games to watch another time. This is perfect if you have work or other obligations, if there is more than one game you’d like to see happening simultaneously, or if you’d just like to record a favorite team playing so you can watch again later!

For any of the options below, you need to know that offerings vary from region to region. The key to discovering whether or not you’ll be able to watch March Madness with one or more of these choices is to know which games will be on which channels.

Now that you know where to catch the games, check with each cable alternative to see if these channels are offered in your area so you can discover whether the games you’d like to see will be streaming. In an unfortunate new twist on live streaming sports, the First Four will be shown only on tru tv. Tru tv is a live-streaming website that is free, but only as long as you’re subscribed to cable through one of their affiliates. Another way to access Tru TV is to subscribe to a streaming service that includes it in their offerings.

Stream March Madness 2018 With OTA TV

Compatability: Varies between manufacturers.

Cost: Prices vary from company to company; I’ve seen anywhere from $ 17.99 – $ 149.99.

Pros: Free content from local broadcasters.

Cons: Some companies charge a monthly fee to use the app associated with their antenna.

OTA stands for over the air, in other words, an antenna! Yes, it’s true, you can legally pick up locally broadcasted channels and stream them to your Apple TV with an antenna. While you might be envisioning the old-fashioned version that looks like a laundry rack attached to your roof, there are now lots of OTA options that stay right inside your house. Some can boost signals, as well, which is really helpful if you live in a rural area. There are lots of choices, so use this cool tool the NCAA provides to figure out which games are broadcast in your area, or could be picked up with an antenna that features signal boosting. It’s really easy to use, just enter your zip code, then choose Local Over the Air Broadcast from the drop-down menu under Select Your TV Provider. Just remember you won’t be able to catch any games that are streaming on Tru TV, which means you’ll miss all the First Four and some of the First-Second Rounds. If it’s really important to you to catch all of the March Madness games, OTA isn’t your best choice. If you don’t mind missing some of the games, some OTA options include: AirTV, HD HomeRun, and Mohu, but there are lots more out there!

Stream the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships with fuboTV

Compatibility: fourth-generation Apple TV

Cost: $ 19.99 a month for the first month, $ 39.99 a month thereafter.

Pros: Seven day free trial period with no commitment, then a month long special reduced price.

Con: Channel availability varies by region.

FuboTV is a tv streaming service with a heavy focus on live sports. The basic package, fubo Premier, offers more than 70 channels of content. Unfortunately, it seems that this content doesn’t include much of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships. In my area, CBSN and CBS Sports Network are offered, but no TNT, TBS, or Tru TV. It’s possible that the necessary channels are offered in other areas, you have to do your research with this one. If you live in an area where FuboTV includes TBS, CBS, TNT, and Tru TV, you’ll be ready to live stream the entire 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. If not, read on to find an option that will work for you!

DirecTV Now is DirecTV’s streaming offering, and I was happy to find that its lowest cost plan includes TBS, TNT, CBS, and Tru TV in many areas. Check with DirecTV Now to see which channels are streaming in your area. If you decide to go with this option, here’s a tutorial on how to set up DirecTV Now on your Apple TV.

Sling TV is an à la carte, streaming tv service that allows viewers to pay far less than a cable subscription would cost. Customers can choose Sling Orange, Sling Blue, or both. As an added bonus, Sling offers a Cloud DVR option for $ 5 a month. This way you can record the NCAA championship games and watch them later if you have work or family plans to accommodate. If you live in the right area, Sling offers TBS, TNT, and Tru TV, but not CBS. Once again, offerings vary from region to region; make sure the NCAA broadcasts are available in your area.

Stream 2018 March Madness on Apple TV with PlayStation Vue

Cons: Some channels are restricted outside of your home network, not all games are available to view on your iPhone.

You don’t need a PlayStation to subscribe to PlayStation Vue, a live-streaming TV service that includes cloud DVR and the ability to stream on five devices at once. The least expensive package, Access, includes TNT and Tru TV in my area, and rings in at $ 39.99 a month. Other channels, including TBS are available if you live in the right service area—check with PlayStation Vue to be sure. Even if you live in the right service area to get TNT, Tru TV, and TBS, you’ll need to also subscribe to CBS All Access or use OTA tv as described above to tune in to CBS so you can watch all the NCAA Championship games this year.

Click here to learn all about setting PlayStation Vue up on your Apple TV.

Watch the 2018 NCAA Championship with Hulu Live on your Apple TV

Compatability: fourth generation Apple TV

Cost: seven day free trial, then $ 39.99 a month

Pros: Watch on two devices at once.

Cons: Beta version

Hulu makes the jump and joins the live-streaming tv game with their Hulu Live offering, which includes access to the entire Hulu streaming library. If you live in the right area, $ 39.99 a month will get you NBC, TBS, TNT, and even Tru TV! All the championship games, one live streaming service. A few cautions, though, Hulu warns right up front that this is a beta version and therefore subject to bugs and hiccups, so if you want to ensure the smoothest possible streaming of the 2018 Championships, this could be slightly risky. As well, Hulu customers have complained about commercials with adult themes before, during, and after family and sports content, so if you’re watching the games with kids Hulu might not be the best choice for your family.

If you live in an area where Hulu Live provides all the , you can learn how to set it up on your Apple TV here.

Watch the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament with CBS All Access

Compatability: Requires iOS 9.0 or later.

Cost: Three day free trial, $ 5.99 plus tax per month thereafter.

Pros: Live stream sports content as well as popular shows – commercial free available for recorded events.

Some of the NCAA Championship games will run only on CBS this year, which means that if you don’t have cable you need to either have a method to stream CBS, or get CBS over the air with an OTA antenna as described at the beginning of the article. If you need to subscribe to CBS All Access to watch some of the games, here’s a link explaining how to get the app for your Apple TV.

Live Stream March Madness 2018 to Your Apple TV

I hope that one of these options will help you live stream all the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship games you’d like to see to your Apple TV!

You can watch live broadcast television on your Apple TV without needing a cable subscription with HDHomeRun.

Being a cord cutter (actually, I’ve never had cable, so I haven’t technically cut any cords), I’m always on the hunt for new ways to keep myself entertained. On Apple TV, I use a handful of apps that, either I subscribe to a streaming service for (like Hulu and Netflix), or offer a free streaming TV feature that doesn’t require a cable subscription (like PBS and The CW).

For those looking for “cable lite” in the form of small packaged cable subscriptions from services like Sling TV and DirectTV Now, we’ve got a list of the best streaming live TV services. Keep in mind, though, that most of these services don’t offer unlimited access to broadcast channels like NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox. What I’m referring to is the ability to watch any broadcast channel available in your area.

There is also this thing called broadcast television, which anyone can watch as long as they have a TV that supports digital television (or a digital conversion box) and an over-the-air (OTA) HDTV antenna. The thing about broadcast television is that I couldn’t watch it on Apple TV. I’d have to switch my TV input over, and then flip through the channels until I found something to watch. I rarely watched broadcast television because I tend to stick with Apple TV for my TV and movie watching activities.

That is until I got HDHomeRun. With HDHomeRun, not only can I watch live broadcast television on my Apple TV, I can also watch it on my iPhone or iPad. Plus, with a subscription, you can record live TV and watch it the way a person with cable and a DVR would watch TV. Skip those commercials!

There are a few options for broadcast television transmitters, but from my experience, HDHomeRun is the most versatile with other third-party apps like Plex, Emby and Kodi.

I’m going to explain a little bit more about what HDHomeRun is and how to set it up.

What is HDHomeRun?

It’s a box, about the size of an Apple TV, maybe a little smaller, that acts as a transmitter. When connected to your internet router and your OTA antenna, it makes it possible for you to watch live TV on any other device that is also using the same internet connection.

Here’s how it works: You connect an ethernet cable to your home’s internet modem. Then, you connect your OTA antenna to it (the antenna does not need to be connected to your TV set). Then, you plug it into a power source.

Then, using the companion app on your iPhone, iPad, or computer, you scan for local channels, just like you do when setting up broadcast television on your TV set. Then, you watch TV.

You can start watching TV on your computer right away when you download the official HDHomeRun app on your Mac or iPhone and iPad.

If you want to get broadcast television on your Apple TV, you’ll have to download a third-party app. I highly recommend Channels.

With the app installed on your other devices, all you have to do is open the app, scan for your HDHomeRun, and start watching live TV.

Why would I want HDHomeRun

First off, you’re probably only going to be interested in using HDHomeRun if you are a cord cutter (if you don’t have a cable subscription). There is an HDHomeRun box specifically for people that have a cable subscription, but I’m focusing on people that don’t pay for cable and want to watch broadcast TV on their iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV.

You might be asking, “How is this any different from simply watching CBS, NBC, or ABC on my TV?” Because that’s what I asked, at first. Actually, there are two main benefits to using HDHomeRun as a broadcast television channel transmitter.

The obvious benefit is that you can watch broadcast television on any supported device in your house, including computers, smartphones, tablets, Xbox One, set-top boxes (like Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV), and other media centers that support such apps as Plex, Emby, and Kodi. You don’t just have to watch TV on your TV. You can watch it anywhere.

A second benefit is that, with the HDHomeRun DVR subscription, you can record live TV and watch it when you want, even when you don’t have an internet connection. Even app channels for Apple TV don’t offer that — cable subscription or not.

If you’re the type of person that would only watch broadcast television on your TV set and don’t care about being able to record shows to watch later, HDHomeRun is not the set up for you.

If, however, you like the idea of watching your local news on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, or you want to be able to record live TV and watch it at your leisure without needing a cable subscription to do so, you should think about investing in HDHomeRun.

What do I need in order to watch free live TV on my Mac, Apple TV, iPhone, or iPad?

Most importantly, you’ll need to be living in a country that supports digital TV that receives either ATSC, DVB-T and DVB-T2, DVB-C or QAM.

You’ll also need the HDHomerun box.

HDHomeRun Connect Duo – $ 99 – Probably the box you want. It works with 802.11ac (for HD playback) or 802.11n (for SD playback) wireless internet connectivity and lets you stream live TV to two devices at the same time.

HDHomeRun Connect Quatro – $ 149 – This is the same as the Connect Duo, but has four tuners instead of two. If three or more people in your household watch different TV channels at the same time from different devices, you might want to spend the extra $ 50 so the kids don’t fight.

HDHomeRun Extend – $ 179 – The same as the Connect, but with video transcoding. If you have a poor internet connection in your area, this is the model you should get. The Extend compresses videos in real time so you aren’t maxing out your bandwidth.

HDHomeRun Prime – $ 129 – This is the box that is only for cable subscribers. It requires a digital cable subscription and a CableCard, which you can rent from your provider.

If you don’t already have one, you’ll need an over-the-air HDTV antenna with a coax connector that is able to work as a receiver in your area. Depending on how far away you are from your local channel broadcast center, you might only need an indoor antenna, which you can get for about $ 15 – $ 30, or you might need an attic or outdoor mounted antenna, which could cost as much as $ 150. You can figure out which type of antenna you’ll need by using TV Fool’s signal locator.

If you’re on the Apple ecosystem, you’ll also need to download the HDHomeRun app for Mac, iPhone or iPad. HDHomeRun is not yet compatible with Apple TV. However, there are a variety of software options that range in price from a few dollars up front, to a monthly subscription. It all depends on what you want or need.

My preferred app for watching live TV on Apple TV is Channels for Apple TV, which costs $ 24.99. The iPhone and iPad version costs $ 14.99 (and you do have to buy them separately). It has a few extra features — it records up to 30 minutes of a channel you’re watching so you can pause it and come back later (great for skipping commercials).

If you do plan on recording full episodes of shows or movies, you’ll also need a hard drive with 6-8 GB of disk space per hour of recording. So, you might need to invest in a 1, 2, or 3 TB external hard drive to store your shows, which range in price from $ 25 – $ 130, depending on how much live TV you want to record and watch later.

How do I set up HDHomRun?

It’s easier than you think, but SiliconDust, the company that makes HDHomeRun didn’t do a very good job of explaining how to set it up. The simple instructions are actually a tad bit too simple. Here’s a little more detail on what you’ll need to do.

The first thing you should do is suss out where you’re going to set up the HDHomeRun. The box needs to be connected to your modem, the antenna, and a power source at all times, though none of it needs to be connected to your television set or computer. Be sure you’ve got a good location to set everything up.

The next thing you should do is disconnect your OTA HDTV antenna from your TV set if you haven’t already. It doesn’t need to be connected to it anymore It doesn’t even have to be in the same room as your TV set. Instead, connect your antenna to the HDHomeRun box using the coax cable.

Next, connect the HDHomeRun box to your home modem or router using the included ethernet cable. Just plug one end of the ethernet cable into the box and the other end into the ethernet port on the modem or router. The HDHomeRun will always need to stay connected to the modem or router, so make sure you’ve got room nearby to set up the box and antenna. You could also invest in a longer ethernet cable if you need to.

Then, plug the box into a power source. Any old wall plug will do.

After you see a solid green light on the HDHomeRun box (just below the ethernet port), go to myhdhomerun.com to scan for channels in order to prepare to watch live TV.

Last, download the necessary software. You can download a compatible app for your Mac right from myhdhomerun.com. You can also download the HDHomerun app for iPhone and iPad. On Apple TV, you can use Plex with your Plex Pass subscription or Emby with an Emby Premier subscription, or you could also side load Kodi and use the HDHomeRun add-on. If you don’t already use Plex, Emby, or Kodi on your Apple TV, you should probably get Channels for Apple TV (my personal recommendation) or InstaTV Pro.

Once you open one of the apps, the channels should automatically populate for your viewing pleasure. If you don’t see your channels, you can rescan from within the app and you should see them after that.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about what HDHomeRun is, how it works, or how to set it up? Put them in the comments and we’ll help you out.

Updated February 2018: Updated available HDHomeRun boxes and included information regarding the HDHomeRun app for iOS.

For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Popcord to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Popcord Lightning cable, which is a portable cable that’s designed to fit right on your keyring so it’s always with you for charging emergencies.

The Popcord, which started out as a Kickstarter project, features a Lightning connector attached to a thick silicone body that loops over to fit into an aluminum cover that also doubles as a USB-A port. The resulting Lightning cable loop is compact and fits onto a keyring, belt loop, bag hook, or any similar accessory.

When you need to charge an iOS device, you can pull the Lightning connector out of the cover, plug it into an iOS device, and plug the other end into any USB-A port on a MacBook or charging adapter. It’s a simple solution for when you need a Lightning cable in a pinch. Folded up, Popcord is about two and a half inches long, and extended, it measures in at almost five inches.

Priced at £29.00 or $40 (shipping included), Popcord is a bit expensive in a market crowded with similar keychain cable solutions, but it is MFi (Made for iPhone) certified, longer than most keychain solutions, and made from a thick, durable rubber that’s also flexible. The Popcord comes in several colors, including red, green, white, and black.

We have 15 Popcords to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (February 16) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 23. The winners will be chosen randomly on February 23 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

After dominating the smartphone market in India last year, Chinese hardware brand Xiaomi is now going after couch potatoes across the country with its TVs, which play nice with cable and satellite set-top boxes. The smart Mi TV 4 comes with PatchWall, an OS that surfaces content from the channels available through your set-top box in a modern interface. It also lets you browse content available from several local streaming partners that Xiaomi has teamed up with. The company says that you’ll find more than 500,000 hours of shows and movies on the platform from the likes of Hotstar, Voot,…